Phosphorylaminophenyltetrahydrophthalimide herbicides

ABSTRACT

The present application discloses herbicidal phosphorylaminophenyltetrahydrophthalimides, compositions of them, methods of preparing them, and methods for controlling undesired plant growth by preemergence or postemergence application of the herbicidal compositions to the locus where control is desired. The herbicidal compounds are compounds of the formula ##STR1## in which X and Y are independently F, Cl, or Br; R 1  is selected from lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, cycloalkyl of 3 to 7 ring carbon atoms, lower alkenyl, lower haloalkenyl, lower alkynyl, lower haloalkynyl, and benzyl which is unsubstituted or substituted on the phenyl ring with one or more substituents selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, and nitro; and R 2  is independently selected from among --OR 1  or is hydroxy, amino, lower alkylamino, or lower dialkylamino; R 3  is H, lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; or a base addition salt of the compound as defined above in which R 2  is hydroxy.

This application is a continuation-in-part, of application Ser. No. 259,073, filed Oct. 18, 1988 now abandoned.

The invention described in this application pertains to weed control in agriculture, horticulture, and other fields where there is a desire to control unwanted plant growth. More specifically, the present application describes certain herbicidal phosphorylaminophenyltetrahydrophthalimides, compositions of them, methods of preparing them, and methods for controlling undesired plant growth by preemergence or postemergence application of the herbicidal compositions to the locus where control is desired. The present compounds may be used to effectively control a variety of both grassy and broadleaf plant species.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,675 discloses, as intermediates for herbicidal compounds, aryltetrahydrophthalimides of the formula ##STR2## in which each of X and Y is independently hydrogen or

halogen, M is oxygen, sulfur, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, or N--R, each of R and R¹ is independently hydrogen or lower alkyl, R² is lower alkyl, and R³ is lower alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, or alkoxycarbonylalkyl.

Japanese Kokai 61-103,887, published May 22, 1986, discloses (as reported in Derwent Abstracts, accession No. 86-172208/27) herbicidal compounds of the formula ##STR3## in which X is chlorine or bromine and R¹ and R² are independently 1-4C alkyl.

Japanese Kokai 60-246,392, published Dec. 6, 1985, discloses (as reported in Chemical Abstracts, 104, 149,169k, 1986) herbicidal compounds of the formula ##STR4## in which R is hydrogen or fluorine, R¹ is chlorine or bromine, and R² and R³ are chloride, hydroxy, alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, or alkylamino.

Japanese Kokai 60-228,494, published Nov. 13, 1985, discloses (as reported in Derwent Abstracts, accession No. 86-003058/01) herbicidal compounds of the formula ##STR5## in which X is hydrogen, fluorine, or chlorine, Y is chlorine or bromine, and R is hydrogen or 1-4C alkyl.

Japanese Kokai 59-033,293, published Feb. 23, 1984, discloses (as reported in Derwent Abstracts, accession No. 84-084464/14) herbicidal compounds of the formula ##STR6## in which X is oxygen or sulfur, Y is oxygen, sulfur, or amino, Z is halogen, R¹ is alkyl or alkoxyalkoxyalkyl, and R² is alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, alkoxyalkoxyalkoxy, or phenyl.

The herbicidal compounds of the present invention are compounds of the formula ##STR7## in which:

X and Y are independently F, Cl, or Br;

R¹ is selected from lower alkyl (e.g. --CH₃ or --CH(CH₃)CH₂ CH₃), lower haloalkyl (e.g. --CH₂ CH₂ Cl), cycloalkyl of 3 to 7 ring carbon atoms (e.g. cyclopentyl), lower alkenyl (e.g. --CH₂ CH═CH₂), lower haloalkenyl (e.g. --CH₂ C(Cl)═CH₂), lower alkynyl (e.g. --CH₂ C═CH), lower haloalkynyl (e.g. --CH₂ C═CBr), and benzyl which may be substituted on the phenyl ring with one or more substituents selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, and nitro;

R² is independently selected from among --OR¹ or is hydroxy, amino, lower alkylamino (e.g. --NHC₂ H₅), or lower dialkylamino (e.g. --N(CH₃)C₂ H₅); and

R³ is hydrogen, alkyl (e.g., lower alkyl such as --CH₃), or alkenyl (e.g., lower alkenyl such as --CH₂ CH═CH₂); or a base addition salt of the compound as defined above in which R² is hydroxy.

It is often preferable that any alkyl group or alkyl portion of any group herein have 1-6 carbon atoms and that any alkenyl or alkynyl group or alkenyl or alkynyl portion of any group herein have 3-6 carbon atoms.

The substituent X is advantageously F or Cl, preferably F. Y is preferably Cl or Br, more preferably Cl. In preferred embodiments X is F and Y is Cl, X is F and Y is Br, or X and Y are both Cl.

Compounds in which R² is hydroxy are acidic and form herbicidal base addition salts upon treatment with a base. Typical cations of such salts include sodium, potassium, calcium, ammonium, magnesium, and mono-, di-, and tri (C₁ -C₄ alkyl) ammonium, sulfonium, or sulfoxonium ions.

The compounds of this invention may be prepared by the use of steps generally described in the literature or by methods analogous or similar thereto and within the skill of the art.

A useful intermediate in preparing the present compounds is a compound of the formula ##STR8## in which X and Y are as defined above.

The intermediate amino compound II may be converted into final products I by known general methods, for example by a method similar to that described by R. M. Caven, J. Chem. Soc. 81, 1362 (1902). For example, II may be treated with a phosphoryl dihalide containing the R² group (or --OR¹ group), in the presence of a base (e.g. triethylamine) to produce a halophosphoramide derivative of II, followed by reaction with R¹ --OH (or R² H) in the presence of a base to give final product I, wherein R³ is H, as illustrated in the following chemical equations: ##STR9##

The compounds in which R³ is alkyl or alkenyl may be prepared by alkylating or alkenylating the corresponding compounds in which R³ is H, for example by treating the compound in which R³ is H with a base (such as sodium hydride) in the presence of an inert solvent (such as dimethylformamide) followed by treatment with R³ -Z in which Z is good leaving group (such as Cl, Br, or I).

A particularly useful alternative method for producing the products of formula I in which R² is the same as OR¹ and R³ is H comprises reacting the amine intermediate (II) with a phosphorus oxyhalide, such as POCl₃, followed by treatment of the resulting dihalophosphoramide derivative with at least 2 equivalents of R¹ --OH in the presence of a base (e.g. NaHCO₃).

The intermediates of formula II may be prepared as illustrated in the following chemical equations: ##STR10##

The appropriate 2,4-dihalophenylamine may be combined with tetrahydrophthalic anhydride to give the corresponding 2,4-dihalophenyltetrahydrophthalimide IV. The C-5 amino group may be introduced by nitration (H₂ SO₄ /HNO₃) to give the corresponding 5-NO₂ compound V, followed by reduction of the NO₂ group (Fe/CH₃ CO₂ H) to give the 5-NH₂ compound II. The NO₂ reduction with Fe/CH₃ CO₂ H is disclosed in Japan Patent Publication No. 59-067,261, published Apr. 16, 1984 for the compounds in which X is F and Y is respectively Cl and Br. The 5-NO₂ compound V may also be made directly, by reaction of the appropriate 2,4-dihalo-5-nitrophenylamine with tetrahydrophthalic anhydride.

Representative compounds of the invention are shown in Table 1 below.

Preparation of the compounds of this invention is further illustrated in the following Example.

EXAMPLE 1 N-[4-CHLORO-2-FLUORO-5-(0,0-DIMETHYLPHOSPHORYLAMINO)-PHENYL]-3,4,5,6-TETRAHYDROPHTHALIMIDE

A stirred mixture of 2.0 g (0.0068 mole) of N-(5-amino-4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide in 25 mL of phosphorus oxychloride was heated at reflux for approximately 18 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled, and the excess phosphorus oxychloride was removed by distillation under reduced pressure, leaving an oil. The oil was dissolved in 50 mL of methanol, and solid sodium bicarbonate was added until a neutral mixture was obtained. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for approximately 18 hours, then was heated at reflux for one hour. The mixture was cooled and filtered, and the filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure leaving a solid. This solid was purified by column chromatography on silica gel, eluting with methylene chloride:acetone (80:20), to give 1.1 g of N-[4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-(0,0-dimethylphosphorylamino)-phenyl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide, m.p. 158°-161° C., compound 1 of Table 1 below.

The nmr and ir spectra were consistent with the proposed structure.

The corresponding diethyl ester (R² ═OR¹ ═OC₂ H₅) was prepared in a similar manner (using ethanol in place of methanol in the last step), mp 123°-124° C., compound 2 of Table 1. The ir and nmr spectra were consistent with the proposed structure.

In tests for pre- and postemergence herbicidal activity, as described below, the following results were obtained when compounds 1 and 2 of the Example above were applied at a rate of 1.0 percent kg.ha:

    ______________________________________                                                     Percent Control @ 1.0 kg/ha                                                    Compound 1      Compound 2                                         Species       Pre    Post       Pre  Post                                      ______________________________________                                         Cotton        100    100        100  95                                        Soybean        90    100        100  80                                        Corn           90     95         80  80                                        Rice           90    100         80  80                                        Wheat          90    100         80  95                                        Morningglory  100    100        100  100                                       Wild Mustard  100    100        100  100                                       Velvetleaf    100    100        100  100                                       Barnyardgrass 100    100         95  90                                        Green Foxtail 100    100        100  100                                       Johnsongrass   95    100         95  95                                        ______________________________________                                    

HERBICIDAL ACTIVITY

The plant test species used in demonstrating the herbicidal activity of compounds of this invention include cotton (Gossypoium hirsutum var. DPLGI), soybean (Glycine max var. Williams), field corn (Zea mavs var. Pioneer 3732), wheat (Triticum aestivium var. Wheaton), rice (Orvza sativa var. Labelle), morningglory (Ipomea lacumosa or Ipomea hederacea), wild mustard (Brassica kaber), velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli), green foxtail (Setaria viridis), and johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense).

Preparation of Flats Preemergence

Two disposable fiber flats (8 cm×15 cm×25 cm) for each rate of application for each candidate herbicide for preemergence testing are filled to an approximate depth of 6.5 cm with steam sterilized sandy loam soil. The soil is leveled and impressed with a template to provide six evenly spaced furrows 13 cm long and 0.5 cm deep in each flat. Seeds of cotton, soybean, corn, rice and wheat are planted in five of the furrows of the first flat (the sixth furrow is left unplanted), and seeds of wild mustard, morningglory, velvetleaf, barnyardgrass, green foxtail, and johnsongrass are planted in the six furrows of the second flat. The template is again employed to firmly press the seeds into place. A topping soil of equal portions of sand and sandy loam soil is placed uniformly on top of each flat to a depth of approximately 0.5 cm. The flats are first watered, then sprayed with a solution of test compound as described below.

Postemergence

Two flats for each rate of application for each herbicide candidate are also prepared for postemergence application. The postemergence flats are prepared in the same manner as discussed above for the preemergence flats. The prepared flats are watered for 8-11 days, then the foliage of the emerged tests plants is sprayed with a solution of test compound as described below.

Application of Herbicides

In both the preemergence and postemergence tests, the candidate herbicides are applied as aqueous acetone solutions, usually at rates equivalent to 8.0 kilograms/hectare (kg/ha) and/or submultiples thereof, i.e., 4.0 kg/ha, 2.0 kg/ha, and so on.

The four flats (2 preemergence, 2 postemergence) are placed together and sprayed with 30 mL of test solution containing an appropriate amount of the test compound, i.e., approximately 7.5 mL of the test solution is sprayed on each of the four flats. Preemergence applications are made as sprays to the soil surface. Postemergence applications are made as sprays to the foliage. After treatment, the two preemergence flats are watered regularly at the soil surface for approximately 2 weeks, at which time phytotoxicity data are recorded. In the postemergence test the foliage is kept dry for 24 hours after treatment, then watered regularly for approximately 2 weeks, and phytotoxicity data recorded.

Preparation of Test Solutions For flats of the size described above, an application rate of 8.0 kg/ha of active ingredient is equivalent to 0.06 g of active ingredient/flat (0.24 g/4 flats). A stock solution of 0.48 g of the candidate herbicide in 60 mL of a 50:50 mixture of water and acetone containing 0.5% (v/v) of sorbitan monolaurate emulsifier/solubilizer is divided into two 30 mL portions, each containing 0.24 g of the candidate herbicide. For the 8.0 kg/ha application, one of the 30 mL portions is sprayed undiluted onto the four flats (7.5 mL/flat). The remaining 30 mL portion of the stock solution is diluted with an additional 30 mL of the aqueous acetone/emulsifier mixture to provide 60 mL of a solution containing 0.24 g of candidate herbicide. As above, this solution is divided into two 30 mL portions, each containing 0.12 g of candidate herbicide. One of the 30 mL portions is applied, without further dilution, to the four flats for the 4.0 kg/ha rate. The remaining 30 mL portion is further diluted with an equal amount of aqueous acetone/emulsifier mixture, and the resulting 60 mL solution of 0.12 g candidate herbicide is divided into two 30 mL portions each containing 0.06 g of candidate herbicide. One of the 30 mL (0.06 g active) portions is used for the 2.0 kg/ha application rate and the other is used in the preparation of lower rate test solutions by the same serial dilution technique.

Phytotoxicity data are taken as percent control. Percent control is determined by a method similar to the 0 to 100 rating system disclosed in "Research Methods in Weed Science," 2nd ed., B. Truelove, Ed.; Southern weed Science Society; Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., 1977. The rating system is as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         Herbicide Rating System                                                        Rating  Description                                                            Percent of Main   Crop          Weed                                           Control Categories                                                                               Description   Description                                    ______________________________________                                          0      No effect No crop       No weed                                                          reduction     control                                                          or injury                                                    10      Slight    Slight dis-   Very poor weed                                         effect    coloration    control                                                          or stunting                                                  20                Some dis-     Poor weed                                                        coloration,   control                                                          stunting or                                                                    stand loss                                                   30                Crop injury   Poor to defi-                                                    more pronounced                                                                              cient weed                                                       but not lasting                                                                              control                                        40      Moderate  Moderate injury,                                                                             Deficient weed                                         effect    crop usually  control                                                          recovers                                                     50                Crop injury   Deficient to                                                     more lasting, moderate weed                                                    recovery doubt-                                                                              control                                                          ful                                                          60                Lasting crop  Moderate weed                                                    injury, no    control                                                          recovery                                                     70      Severe    Heavy injury and                                                                             Control some-                                                    stand loss    what less than                                                                 satisfactory                                   80                Crop nearly des-                                                                             Satisfactory                                                     troyed, a few to good weed                                                     survivors     control                                        90                Only occasional                                                                              Very good to                                                     live plants left                                                                             excellent                                                                      control                                        100     Complete  Complete crop Complete weed                                          effect    destruction   destruction                                    ______________________________________                                    

For herbicidal application, the active compounds are formulated into herbicidal compositions by admixture in herbicidally effective amounts with adjuvants and carriers normally employed in the art for facilitating the dispersion of active ingredients for the particular utility desired, recognizing the fact that the formulation and mode of application of a toxicant may affect the activity of the material in a given application. Thus, for agricultural use the present herbicidal compounds may be formulated as granules of relatively large particle size, as water-soluble or water-dispersible granules, as powdery dusts, as wettable powders, as emulsifiable concentrates, as solutions, or as any of several other known types of formulations, depending on the desired mode of application.

These herbicidal compositions may be applied either as water-diluted sprays, or dusts, or granules to the areas in which suppression of vegetation is desired. These formulations may contain as little as 0.1%, 0.2% or 0.5% to as much as 95% or more by weight of active ingredient.

Dusts are free flowing admixtures of the active ingredient with finely divided solids such as talc, natural clays, kieselguhr, flours such as walnut shell and cottonseed flours, and other organic and inorganic solids which act as dispersants and carriers for the toxicant; these finely divided solids have an average particle size of less than about 50 microns. A typical dust formulation useful herein is one containing 1.0 part or less of the herbicidal compound and 99.0 parts of talc.

Wettable powders, also useful formulations for both pre- and postemergence herbicides, are in the form of finely divided particles which disperse readily in water or other dispersant. The wettable powder is ultimately applied to the soil either as a dry dust or as an emulsion in water or other liquid. Typical carriers for wettable powders include Fuller's earth, kaolin clays, silicas, and other highly absorbent, readily wet inorganic diluents. Wettable powders normally are prepared to contain about 5-80% of active ingredient, depending on the absorbency of the carrier, and usually also contain a small amount of a wetting, dispersing or emulsifying agent to facilitate dispersion. For example, a useful wettable powder formulation contains 80.8 parts of the herbicidal compound 17.9 parts of Palmetto clay, and 1.0 part of sodium lignosulfonate and 0.3 part of sulfonated aliphatic polyester as wetting agents. Other wettable powder formulations are:

    ______________________________________                                         Component:               % by Wt.                                              ______________________________________                                         Active ingredient        40.00                                                 Sodium lignosulfonate    20.00                                                 Attapulgite clay         40.00                                                 Total                    100.00                                                Active ingredient        90.00                                                 Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate                                                                           0.10                                                  Synthetic fine silica    9.90                                                  Total                    100.00                                                Active ingredient        20.00                                                 Sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate                                                                        4.00                                                  Sodium lignosulfonate    4.00                                                  Low viscosity methyl cellulose                                                                          3.00                                                  Attapulgite clay         69.00                                                 Total                    100.00                                                Active ingredient        25.00                                                 Base:                    75.00                                                 96% hydrated aluminum magnesium silicate                                        2% powdered sodium lignosulfonate                                              2% powdered anionic sodium alkyl-                                             naphthalenesulfonate                                                           Total                    100.00                                                ______________________________________                                    

Frequently, additional wetting agent and/or oil will be added to the tank-mix for postemergence application to facilitate dispersion on the foliage and absorption by the plant.

Other useful formulations for herbicidal applications are emulsifiable concentrates (ECs) which are homogeneous liquid or paste compositions dispersible in water or other dispersant, and may consist entirely of the herbicidal compound and a liquid or solid emulsifying agent, or may also contain a liquid carrier, such as xylene, heavy aromatic naphthas, isophorone, or other non-volatile organic solvent. For herbicidal application these concentrates are dispersed in water or other liquid carrier, and normally applied as a spray to the area to be treated. The percentage by weight of the essential active ingredient may vary according to the manner in which the composition is to be applied, but in general comprises 0.5 to 95% of active ingredient by weight of the herbicidal composition.

The following are specific examples of emulsifiable concentrate formulations:

    ______________________________________                                         Component:            % by Wt.                                                 ______________________________________                                         Active ingredient     53.01                                                    Blend of alkylnaphthalenesulfonate                                                                   6.00                                                     and polyoxyethylene ethers                                                     Epoxidized soybean oil                                                                               1.00                                                     Xylene                39.99                                                    Total                 100.00                                                   Active ingredient     10.00                                                    Blend of alkylnaphthalenesulfonate                                                                   4.00                                                     and polyoxyethylene ethers                                                     Xylene                86.00                                                    Total                 100.00                                                   ______________________________________                                    

Flowable formulations are similar to ECs except that the active ingredient is suspended in a liquid carrier, generally water. Flowables, like ECs, may include a small amount of a surfactant, and contain active ingredient in the range of 0.5 to 95%, frequently from 10 to 50%, by weight of the composition. For application, flowables may be diluted in water or other liquid vehicle, and are normally applied as a spray to the area to be treated.

The following are specific examples of flowable formulations:

    ______________________________________                                         Component:             % by Wt.                                                ______________________________________                                         Active ingredient      46.00                                                   Colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate                                                                 0.40                                                    Sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate                                                                      2.00                                                    Paraformaldehyde       0.10                                                    Water                  40.70                                                   Propylene glycol       7.50                                                    Acetylenic alcohols    2.50                                                    Xanthan gum            0.80                                                    Total                  100.00                                                  Active ingredient      45.00                                                   Water                  48.50                                                   Purified smectite clay 2.00                                                    Xanthan gum            0.50                                                    Sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate                                                                      1.00                                                    Acetylenic alcohols    3.00                                                    Total                  100.00                                                  ______________________________________                                    

Typical wetting, dispersing or emulsifying agents used in agricultural formulations include, but are not limited to, the alkyl and alkylaryl sulfonates and sulfates and their sodium salts; alkylaryl polyether alcohols; sulfated higher alcohols; polyethylene oxides; sulfonated animal and vegetable oils; sulfonated petroleum oils; fatty acid esters of polyhydric alcohols and the ethylene oxide addition products of such esters; and the addition product of long-chain mercaptans and ethylene oxide. Many other types of useful surface-active agents are available in commerce. The surface-active agent, when used, normally comprises from 1 to 15% by weight of the composition.

Other useful formulations include simple solutions or suspensions of the active ingredient in a relatively non-volatile solvent such as water, corn oil, kerosene, propylene glycol, or other suitable solvents. The following illustrate specific suspensions:

    ______________________________________                                                               % by Wt.                                                 ______________________________________                                         Oil Suspension:                                                                Active ingredient       25.00                                                  Polyoxyethylene sorbitol hexaoleate                                                                    5.00                                                   Highly aliphatic hydrocarbon oil                                                                       70.00                                                  Total                   100.00                                                 Aqueous Suspension:                                                            Active ingredient       40.00                                                  Polyacrylic acid thickener                                                                             0.30                                                   Dodecylphenol polyethylene glycol ether                                                                0.50                                                   Disodium phosphate      1.00                                                   Monosodium phosphate    0.50                                                   Polyvinyl alcohol       1.00                                                   Water                   56.70                                                  Total                   100.00                                                 ______________________________________                                    

Other useful formulations for herbicidal applications include simple solutions of the active ingredient in a solvent in which it is completely soluble at the desired concentration, such as acetone, alkylated naphthalenes, xylene, or other organic solvents. Granular formulations, wherein the toxicant is carried on relatively coarse particles, are of particular utility for aerial distribution or for penetration of cover crop canopy. Pressurized sprays, typically aerosols wherein the active ingredient is dispersed in finely divided form as a result of vaporization of a low boiling dispersant solvent carrier, such as the Freon fluorinated hydrocarbons, may also be used. Water-soluble or water-dispersible granules are also useful formulations for herbicidal application of the present compounds. Such granular formulations are free-flowing, non-dusty, and readily water-soluble or water-miscible. The soluble or dispersible granular formulations described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,442 are useful herein with the present herbicidal compounds. In use by the farmer on the field, the granular formulations, emulsifiable concentrates, flowable concentrates, solutions, etc., may be diluted with water to give a concentration of active ingredient in the range of say 0.1% or 0.2% to 1.5% or 2%.

The active herbicidal compounds of this invention may be formulated and/or applied with insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, plant growth regulators, fertilizers, or other agricultural chemicals and may be used as effective soil sterilants as well as selective herbicides in agriculture. In applying an active compound of this invention, whether formulated alone or with other agricultural chemicals, an effective amount and concentration of the active compound is of course employed; the amount may be as low as, e.g. about 1 to 250 g/ha, preferably about 4 to 30 g/ha. For field use, where there are losses of herbicide, higher application rates (e.g. four times the rates mentioned above) may be employed.

The active herbicidal compounds of this invention may be used in combination with other herbicides, e.g. they may be mixed with, say, an equal or larger amount of a known herbicide such as chloroacetanilide herbicides such as 2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide (alachlor), 2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide (metolachlor), and N-chloroacetyl-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)glycine (diethatyl-ethyl); benzothiadiazinone herbicides such as 3-(1-methylethyl)-(1H)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4-(3H)-one-2,2-dioxide (bentazon); triazine herbicides such as 6-chloro-N-ethyl-N-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (atrazine), and 2-[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino-2-methylpropanenitrile (cyanazine); dinitroaniline herbicides such as 2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzeneamine (trifluralin); aryl urea herbicides such as N'-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-N,N-dimethylurea (diuron) and N,N-dimethyl-N'-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]urea (fluometuron); and 2-[(2-chlorophenyl)methyl]-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone.

It is apparent that various modifications may be made in the formulation and application of the compounds of this invention without departing from the inventive concepts herein as defined in the claims.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR11##                                                                     Cmpd. No.                                                                            X  Y  OR.sup.1   R.sup.2    R.sup.3                                      __________________________________________________________________________      1    F  Cr OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  H                                             2    F  Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          H                                             3    F  Cl OC.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)                                                                      OC.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)                                                                      H                                             4    F  Cl OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                       OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                       H                                             5    F  Cl OCH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                              OCH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                              H                                             6    F  Cl OCH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                            OCH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                            H                                             7    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                                            H                                             8    F  Cl OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 Cl                                                                     OC.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)                                                                      H                                             9    Cl Cl OCF.sub.3  OCF.sub.3  H                                            10    F  Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          OCH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                                                      H                                            11    Cl Cl OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                       OCH.sub.2 C(Cl)CH.sub.2                                                                   H                                            12    F  Br OCH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                                                      OCH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                                                                      H                                            13    F  Cl OC.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)                                                                      O-cyclopropyl                                                                             H                                            14    Cl Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          O-cyclopentyl                                                                             H                                            15    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.2 CCH                                                                             H                                            16    F  Br OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.2 CCBr                                                                            H                                            17    Cl Cl OCH.sub.2 CCH                                                                             OCH.sub.2 CCH                                                                             H                                            18    F  Cl OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                 OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.5                                                                 H                                            19    Cl Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -4-Cl                                                           H                                            20    F  Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 F.sub.5                                                                 H                                            21    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -4-CH.sub.3                                                     H                                            22    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -3-NO.sub.2                                                     H                                            23    F  Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -3-CN                                                           H                                            24    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -3-CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3                                            H                                            25    F  Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          OCH.sub.2 C.sub.6 H.sub.3 -2,4(OCH.sub.3).sub.2                                           H                                            26    F  Cl OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                       OH         H                                            27    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  NH.sub.2   H                                            28    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  NHCH.sub.3 H                                            29    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  N(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2                                                                  H                                            30    F  Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          NHC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                         H                                            31    F  Cl OC.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                          N(CH.sub.3)C.sub.2 H.sub.5                                                                H                                            32    F  Cl OCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                                                                       O.sup.- +  H                                            33    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OH         H                                            34    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  O.sup.- +  H                                            35    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  CH.sub.3                                     36    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  C.sub.2 H.sub.5                              37    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)                          38    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  CH.sub.3                                     39    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  C.sub.2 H.sub.5                              40    F  Cl OCH.sub. 3 OCH.sub.3  C.sub.3 H.sub.7 (n)                          41    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                           42    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2                           43    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  C.sub.4 H.sub.9 (n)                          44    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                          45    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  C.sub.7 H.sub.15 (n)                         46    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  C.sub.4 H.sub.9 (n)                          47    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  CH.sub.2 CHCH.sub.2                          48    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  C.sub.7 H.sub.15 (n)                         49    Cl Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  CH.sub.3                                     50    F  Cl OCH.sub.3  OCH.sub.3  C.sub.2 H.sub.5.                             __________________________________________________________________________ 

I claim:
 1. A compound of the formula ##STR12## in which X and Y are independently F, Cl, or Br;R¹ is selected from lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, cycloalkyl of 3 to 7 ring carbon atoms, lower alkenyl, lower haloalkenyl, lower alkynyl, lower haloalkynyl, and benzyl which is unsubstituted or substituted on the phenyl ring with one or more substituents selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, and nitro; R² is independently selected from among --OR¹ or is hydroxy, amino, lower alkylamino, or lower dialkylamino; and R³ is H, alkyl, or lower alkenyl; or a base addition salt of the compound as defined above in which R² is hydroxy.
 2. The compound of claim 1 in which X and Y are respectively F, Cl; Cl, Cl; or F, Br.
 3. The compound of claim 2 in which X and Y are respectively F,Cl or Cl,Cl.
 4. The compound of claim 3 in which R² is hydroxy, amino, lower alkylamino, or lower dialkylamino; or a base addition salt of the compound in which R² is hydroxy.
 5. The compound of claim 4 in which R¹ is lower alkyl.
 6. The compound of claim 3 in which R² is independently selected from among --OR¹.
 7. The compound of claim 6 in which R¹ is lower alkyl.
 8. The compound of claim 7 in which R² is lower alkoxy and is the same as --OR¹.
 9. A herbicidal composition comprising an herbicidally effective amount of the compound of claim 1 in admixture with a suitable carrier.
 10. A method for controlling undesired plant growth which comprises applying to the locus where control is desired a herbicidally effective amount of the composition of claim
 9. 11. The compound of claim 1 in which R³ is H.
 12. The compound of claim 5 in which R³ is H.
 13. The compound of claim 7 in which R³ is H.
 14. The compound of claim 1 in which R³ is lower alkyl.
 15. The compound of claim 5 in which R³ is lower alkyl.
 16. The compound of claim 7 in which R³ is lower alkyl.
 17. The compound of claim 1 in which R³ is lower alkenyl.
 18. The compound of claim 5 in which R³ is lower alkenyl.
 19. The compound of claim 7 in which R³ is lower alkenyl. 